Tray assembly



Patented Dec. l, 14,936'A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i" TRAY ASSEMBLY Grant W. Cramer, Toledo, Ohio, assigner to Dura Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation o! Ohio Application April 27, 193s, serrano. 18,565

iclaim.` (ci. al1-ro V i This invention relates to, trays or turntables adapted to support articles, such as salt and pepper shakers, disposed in convenient position on pantry shelves, stoves, or other places accessible and which has the new and improved features of4 construction and arrangement hereinafter described.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the tray unit with` a portion broken away to show the base and foldc'arrying plate; and

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.'

The illustrated embodiment oi the invention comprises a turntable tray made from sheet metal' stampings, and includes'a base I0 having an annular flanged outer supporting portion II and a raised central portion I2. Formed in the outer part of the raised portion I2 is an annular groove I 3 providing the lower portion of a ball race. Disposed centrally of the raised portion I2 is an upwardly extending surface I4, which provides a bearing support for a triangularly shaped plate I5 having holes I6 at the outer edge portion arranged in annular formation toreceive balls I'l.

Disposed above the plate I5 is a turntable tray I8, which is considerably larger than the base I0,

and is rectangular in shape. Extending upwardly from the sides of the tray I8 are flanges I9 to retain the bott1es,'jars, or other articles supported on the tray, from being displaced therefrom. The

tray I8 is formed of relatively thin gauge metal,

and. in order to prevent bending of the tray under the weight of the articles disposed thereon, the

. same is formed with a series of vannular downwardly extending or concavo-convex ribs' 20, from which radiate similar ribs 2 I' to the four corners of the tray. Spaced inwardly from the rib 20 are annular-ribs 22 and 23. which extend downwardly similar to the ribs 20 and 2I. From the ribs 22 and 23' is an upwardly extending rib 24, which provides at the under side of the turntable an annular ball race and is complemental to the race 55 I8 so that a portion of the balls I'I is disposed in the race formed by the rib 24, and the other por- Y tion is in a'race formed by the rib I3. It is ap` parent that the construction isl such that it not only strengthens the tray so that it is enabled to carry a greater load, but is also such as to provide 5 ahah-receiving race. 1 1 The central portion of the tray `I8 is formed with an annular depressed part 2I, and extending through openings in the depressed portion 25, 'the' plate I5 and the upwardly extending bearing porl0` l tion I 4 is a rivet'28 which serves, in addition td uniting these parts together, to provide-a pivot for the tray and plate I5. The rivet 26 is such that it can be applied' by ariveting machine,'there by eliminating manual labor, whichheretofore lo vf has been necessary in similar constructions.- It

should be lnoted' that 'the rivet 28 merely connects these parts together, and does/not serve as a spacing means, the balls Il alone acting asv spacers. o Anadvantageof this construction is that the height of the tray can be kept to an absolute minimum. This is made possiblel by recessing the base to receive the balls 'and forming the race in the tray lin the manner above described so 25 that the ribs do not extend upwardly above the plane of the tray. It will also be understood that by reinforcing the tray I8 by the arrangement of ribs as above indicated,v the metal-may be of extremely light gauge, thereby keeping thel 30 weight as low as possible, as well as the cost of manufacture It is to be understood that changes'may be effected in details of construction without departing fromv the spirit of the invention as de- 3 lined in the appended claim.

Whatl I claim 'as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is: s A tray ofrelatively light gauge sheet metal f comprising `a base having a raised central flat 40 bearing portion and an outer iianged supporting Y portion, a depressed annular groove spaced outwardly from said bearing portion-to provide a ball-receiving track, la ball plate bearing vagainst saidiiat bearing portion, said plate. being pro- 45 vided withl ay plurality oi' equally spaced openings, a b all in each of said openings in said plate having, a portion disposed in said depressed raceway, a turntable disposed above said ball plate, said turntable being rectangular/in form 50 and having an upwardly extending flange on'y the outer edge portion of each side, a pair of depressed concentric `annular grooves or ribs in said turntable providing therebetween on the I underside of the turntable a ball raceway c om-i 6I- pressed central portion and being substantially ilush with the upper surface of the turntable, a,

depressed annular reinforcing rib in said turntable disposed outwardly of said concentric ribs. and depressed ribs formed in said turntable and extending radially from said annular reinforcing rib and terminating adjacent each comer of the turntable.

' l .GRANT W. CRAMER. 

